Unlawful Transaction With a Minor Law and Legal Definition
Unlawful transaction with a minor could refer to any transaction in which a person induces, assists, or causes a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, illegal controlled substances activity, illegal gambling activity, or any other criminal activity constituting a felony. This is an offence in the U.S.
For example, the Kentucky Penal Code provides for three degrees of unlawful transaction with a minor. The relevant law reads as follows:
530.064. Unlawful transaction with a minor in the first degree.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful transaction with a minor in the first degree when he or she knowingly induces, assists, or causes a minor to engage in:
(a) Illegal sexual activity; or
(b) Illegal controlled substances activity other than activity involving marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid agonists or piperazines as defined in KRS 218A.010;
Except those offenses involving minors in KRS Chapter 531 and in KRS 529.100 where that offense involves commercial sexual activity.
(2) Unlawful transaction with a minor in the first degree is a:
(a) Class C felony if the minor so used is less than eighteen (18) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity;
(b) Class B felony if the minor so used is less than sixteen (16) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity; and
(c) Class A felony if the minor so used incurs physical injury thereby. [KRS § 530.064]
530.065. Unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree when he knowingly induces, assists, or causes a minor to engage in illegal controlled substances activity involving marijuana, illegal gambling activity, or any other criminal activity constituting a felony.
(2) Unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree is a Class D felony. [KRS § 530.065]
530.070. Unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree when:
(a) Acting other than as a retail licensee, he knowingly sells, gives, purchases or procures any alcoholic or malt beverage in any form to or for a minor. The defendant may prove in exculpation that the sale was induced by the use of false, fraudulent, or altered identification papers or other documents and that the appearance and character of the purchaser were such that his age could not have been ascertained by any other means and that the purchaser's appearance and character indicated strongly that he was of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages. This subsection does not apply to a parent or guardian of the minor;
(b) He knowingly induces, assists, or causes a minor to engage in any other criminal activity;
(c) He knowingly induces, assists or causes a minor to become a habitual truant; or
(d) He persistently and knowingly induces, assists or causes a minor to disobey his parent or guardian.
(2) Unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor. [KRS § 530.070]
